Arqana, Goffs to jointly hold juvenile sale in Ireland

With a global pandemic disrupting racing and sales in Europe, the auction companies Arqana, based in France, and Goffs UK will join forces to hold a 2-year-old sale in Ireland on June 29 and 30.

In a joint press release, the companies noted that those dates are dependent on the resumption of racing in some form in the United Kingdom, France, and/or Ireland, and that they are hopeful lockdown measures can be relaxed for some in-person attendance at the sale, in addition to remote bidding.

The companies plan to conduct a breeze show at Naas Racecourse several days prior to the auction at Goffs Kildare Paddocks. Ireland was selected for the location of the sale because most horses entered in both the Arqana and Goffs catalogs are from Irish vendors, minimizing the number of horses and their handlers who will need to travel. The companies also said they will have several days between the breezes and the sale in order to allow video of the works to be distributed to buyers unable to attend the sale in person. Juveniles will breeze in sets organized by consignor, rather than catalog order, to meet social-distancing protocols likely to still be in place.

“These are challenging times, but the bloodstock industry is constantly willing to adapt and innovate to whatever circumstances arise,” Arqana president Eric Hoyeau and Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said in the joint release. “Goffs and Arqana have always been closely allied and we will work as one to ensure we do our best by our loyal vendors.”